Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 08:40:00 -0800
From: Roz Shoshonna
Subject: Re: Fill: Belated Bio
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It is about six months since I became a contributing
(or non-contributing, depending on your personal opinion)
member of this list. These are the facts. The facts;
honest, truthful, unadulterated.
1. Like MOST members of my family I was born.
A few were hatched but I am too gracious to name
names. Just take my word for it.
2. At age three I was drawing little birdies. People
were astounded at my talent. I still love to draw
and I draw on my Mac. I continued to improve and
at age eight my teachers thought my talent remark-
able. I am happy to report I still draw as I did
at eight.
3. I was told I composed my first poem at age 4. We
were visiting Uncle Charlies farm and I started
walking through the wheat fields - it was like a
game to me. One of the hands told me the planting
was wheat - I loved the sound of the word so I said
'wheat, feet,.
4. I met cousin Paul for the first time at the farm. I
looked at him and said, 'Paul, tall'. I continued
on from rhyming verse to doggerel to occasional
heart on my sleeve man in the moon poetry.
5. I was born in the same small town as Bill L and MJ.
Population on the occasion of each of our births -
approximately forty. The town produced a lot of
geniuses who left as soon as they could walk.
6. My first acknowledged piece of literatue was in the
third grade. I turned in one of my verses to my
English teacher.
During the next weekly assembly I was called to the
front of the hall. My teacher had given my verse
to the principal and he was so impressed with it
they set it to the tune of "Dixie" and it became
the school song.
7. Illness kept me out of school for three weeks that
year. My teacher sent me a tablet in a 'leather'
holder. I wrote to my hearts content.
8. At ten I sent my first story to a national magazine.
It was rejected. Thats okay. I was used to rejec-
tion.
9. In high school writing was my first love. My friends
were only too happy to allow me to do their theme
papers and essays. I was even happier doing them.
If you gave me a subject I could write a verse about
it at the drop of a hat. The school newspaper never
had an issue without a contribution from roz which
were turned in anonymously.
10. Our graduation class yearbook - under predictions -
said roz was going to be a script writer for Walt
Disney. (Those were the good Disney days)
11. After I graduated high school I had to enter the
work force immediately. I wasn't told the world
owed me a living. I put aside my cherished dreams
as we went to work to prove that world war one did
not put an end to wars.
12. I had many distractions and did little writing. I
derived great pleasure in assisting my children in
turning out A+ high school and college papers. My
grandson had his first poem published at age 10.
epilogue: If you have a writing talent be most grateful for
the gift. I believe that true good writing comes
not from the ice cream cone but from having the
ice cream melt to the ground before you can eat it.
It would be nice to support yourself with your
talent but when that time comes you will no longer
appreciate the gift - you will just be plying your
trade. Are you sure that is what you want?
rs